Department for Communities and Local Government

Local Government: Pay

lord kirkhope of harrogate: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish independent pay review bodies to determine the remuneration of all local authority workers, to avoid possible conflicts of interest between worker and political representatives.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Local government pay is a devolved matter and that position remains unchanged. It is right that independent locally elected local government employers in conjunction with local government trade unions are free to negotiate and make decisions on pay within the limits of what they decide they can afford.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UN Human Rights Council: Elections

lord alderdice: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to promote the "competitive HRC membership elections" for the United Nations Human Rights Council they called for in the joint concluding statement of the 35th Session of the UNHRC in June.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Her Majesty's Government is committed to the defence of human rights worldwide and strongly supports the work of the Human Rights Council (HRC). Recent steps to encourage competitive elections to the HRC include our participation in public pledging events by HRC membership candidates in Geneva and New York. We are considering with like-minded member states a number of ideas relating to the membership and functioning of the HRC, following on from the Joint Statement at its 35th Session.

Libya: Bomb Disposal

lord alderdice: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will check, and address, any delay or obstruction by the authorities in Misrata of the transfer to Sirte and Benghazi of UK de-mining equipment.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The provision of this equipment is to support a training programme in Misrata for Libyan Government of National Accord military and police units clearing mines and ordnance in Sirte. The equipment was delivered to Sirte on 27 October 2017. This will enable the return of families and allow other reconstruction and development activities to take place in safety following the removal of Daesh from that city. The training programme is being funded by the Governments of Germany and the United States, and is being delivered by a contractor. The British Embassy in Tripoli is closely following progress: our Defence Attaché has visited Misrata to inspect the equipment and view the training, as well as meeting with the local authorities in Sirte. We have also provided £1 million so far this year leading to training for more than 60 Explosive Ordnance Disposal operators from Benghazi, including police officers and National Safety Authority staff, and we will fund a £200,000 mine risk education project in Benghazi to start in December.

Commonwealth: Indigenous Peoples

lord alderdice: To ask Her Majesty's Government what legal or treaty obligations they retain in respect of First Nation peoples in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK does not have any prevailing legal or treaty obligations with respect to the native/ indigenous populations in Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.  All previous relevant obligations binding upon the UK Government have been passed to and confined to the Governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand as the independent and sovereign successor states of the UK’s Dominions.

Commonwealth: Indigenous Peoples

lord alderdice: To ask Her Majesty's Government when was the last time they raised through the Commonwealth the problems facing First Nation peoples.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government is fully committed to promoting and protecting human rights for all individuals, including indigenous people. We have not recently raised issues affecting indigenous people in a Commonwealth forum. However, we regularly participate in discussions regarding indigenous peoples in various other fora, including the UN General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Indigenous Peoples

lord alderdice: To ask Her Majesty's Government when was the last time they raised through the United Nations the problems facing First Nation peoples.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Her Majesty's Government is committed to defending the human rights of all individuals, including indigenous people. The Government regularly participates in discussions regarding indigenous peoples in various United Nations fora, including the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues.

Burma: Rohingya

lord carlile of berriew: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the recent deal signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh allowing the return to Myanmar of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, what representationsthey are makingto the government of Myanmar encouraging it to guarantee the safety and political and social rights of those returnees.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK proposed and secured unanimous support for a UN Security Council Presidential Statement on 6 November which urged the Government of Burma to ensure the voluntary return of all refugees in conditions of safety and dignity to their homes, and to allow equal access to full citizenship for all individuals.The Minister for Asia and the Pacific underlined this call in his meetings with Burma's Minister of Defence, the Deputy Foreign Minister, and Aung San Suu Kyi's Chief of Staff on 20 and 21 November. He stressed the need to ensure security for returnees.On 23 November, Bangladesh and Burma signed a memorandum of understanding on the return of refugees to Rakhine State. We understand that a joint working group will be set up, with the aim of the process of returns commencing within two months.The UK Government will press for quick progress on implementation of this bilateral agreement. But we will be clear that any returns must be safe, voluntary and dignified and there must be appropriate international oversight.

Russia: Yukos

baroness falkner of margravine: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make at the next meeting of the Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe during consideration of the non-payments by the Russian Federation to the former majority shareholders of Yukos of the 1.9 billion euros awarded by the European Court of Human Rights.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Meetings of Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe are confidential. We consider that the Russian Government should implement the European Court of Human Rights' ruling of July 2014. The UK has made this point on many occasions previously and will continue to press Russia to fulfil its international obligation to comply with the Court's judgement.

Russia: Council of Europe

baroness falkner of margravine: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the suspension of Russia's annual payment to the Council of Europe, what discussions they have had with Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General, regarding the possibility of Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Ambassador to the Council of Europe has had regular discussions with the Secretary General to the Council of Europe over Russia's refusal to pay the second instalment of their budgetary payment for 2017. In addition, my right honourable friends in the other place, the Member for Rutland and Melton, Sir Alan Duncan, and the Member for Aylesbury, David Lidington, separately met the Secretary General on 28 November 2017 . We are considering all possible scenarios and are working with the Secretary General and other Member States on this matter. Russia has an obligation to pay its subscription as a member and should start paying again without delay.

Religious Freedom

lord suri: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office intends to establish a fund for programmes supporting freedom of religion or belief.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) continues to be a priority for the UK Government. Projects that directly support FoRB overseas are funded through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy. In 2017/18 the Magna Carta Fund will spend £758,717 on six FoRB projects. We will open for bids to support FoRB work in the 2018/19 financial year, early in the next calendar year.

Gaza: Travel Restrictions

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the administration in Gaza concerning prospects for opening the Rafah crossing and allowing people with visas to leave.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We have not raised this issue with the administration in Gaza. The UK retains a policy of no contact with Hamas in its entirety. We encourage the Palestinian Authority (PA) to fully resume its government functions in Gaza, and ensure that the reconciliation process is compliant with the Quartet Principles. Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem frequently urge the PA to take steps to improve conditions in Gaza. We have also raised the opening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding reports ofthe detention of a nine year old boy during raids in the occupied West Bank in November.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, the UK continues to have strong concerns about continued reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian minors in Israeli military detention, notably the use of painful restraints and insufficient notification of legal rights. Our Ambassador to Israel raised concerns with Israeli Attorney-General Mandelblit on 3 October, and the Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt also raised our concerns with the Israeli authorities during his visit to Israel in August 2017.We will continue regularly to raise this issue with the Israeli authorities, and to press them to secure necessary improvements to the practices surrounding the military detention of minors. We will also continue to work closely with our European partners in country.

Israel: Freedom of Expression

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action theyare taking with their international partners to supportand encourage free speech in Israel, following reports ofintimidation and public order offences committed by far-right groups in that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government stands up for and strongly supports the right of freedom of expression. We welcome the repeated public commitments of the Israeli Government, including the President and Prime Minister, to uphold and protect Israel’s longstanding tradition of freedom of expression.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regardingreports by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs thatthe Israeli military have issued orders demarcating areas where three Palestinian herding communities are located, resulting in 419 people beingat heightened risk of forcible transfer.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is gravely concerned by Israeli proposals to relocate Bedouin population from the E1 area, which the UN has said could constitute forcible transfer. We regularly raise our concerns with the Israeli authorities, including through our Embassy in Tel Aviv. These plans could have a negative impact on the communities concerned and will likely open the way for further settlement expansion – endangering the viability of the two-state solution. We continue to follow developments closely. Staff from the British Consulate General visited Jabal al-Baba on 9 November, and both Ein al-Hilweh and Umm al-Jammal on 22 November. We also provide legal aid to the community at Jabal al-Baba through our support to the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding reports by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairsof ablockage by the Israeli militaryof roads connecting southern Hebron to the rest of the West Bank, placing residents atrisk of forcible transfer.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​While we have not raised this specific issue, we have consistently called on the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Sahel

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the current scoping mission to assess the UK's future involvement in the Sahel, including potential support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force, will be completed; and whether its conclusions will be made public.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The scoping mission will be completed in mid-January. The situation in the Sahel is deteriorating, so the UK Government is looking at a range of options to protect UK interests in the region and support EU partners' endeavours. The conclusions will be made public early next year.

Zimbabwe: Foreign Relations

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to improve relations with Zimbabwe since President Mnangagwa took office.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Minister for Africa visited Zimbabwe on 23-24 November. He met a range of political leaders, including President Mnangagwa, as well as business representatives, non-governmental organisations and civil society to discuss the UK's support for free and fair elections and economic reform in Zimbabwe. The Foreign Secretary had a bilateral meeting with the Zimbabwean delegation in the margins of the African Union/EU Summit in Abidjan on 29 November.

Sudan: Human Rights

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government, whether, during their current dialogue with the government of Sudan,they have raised issues ofhuman rights and freedom of expression in (1) universities, (2) places of worship, and (3) non-governmental organisations; and what progress they have made in discussing those issues with the government of Sudan.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Sudan remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and although there have been limited improvements in some areas, we continue to be concerned by reports of restrictions on freedom of expression, civil society, and freedom of religion or belief.As part of our ongoing dialogue, officials from our Embassy in Khartoum regularly raise our concerns about human rights, including with regard to universities, places of worship, and non-governmental organisations, with Government officials at all levels. Human rights and freedom of expression were also a key topic of discussion at the fourth session of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue on 16 October.

Department for International Development

Somalia and Somaliland: Overseas Aid

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetheraid has been provided in transitional livelihood support to former Al-Shabaab supporters through Adam Smith International on behalf ofthe Department for International Development'sSomalia and Somaliland programmes, in each of the last six years; and if so, how much.

lord bates: No aid has been provided by the Department for International Development through Adam Smith International or any other channel for this purpose in any of the last six years.

Somalia: Overseas Aid

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of correspondence detailing operational and reputational risks relating to the Department for International Development's Somalia programme; and what assessment they have made of the conclusion of the report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact,UK Aid in a Conflict Affected Country:Reducing Conflict and Fragility inSomalia,that those risks"were the subject of anxious consideration within and between departments”.

lord bates: Internal correspondence on risks is often of the sensitive nature and is not therefore in the public domain. The specific reference in the ICAI report on Somalia to the “anxious consideration” of risks refers to a specific project. The report goes on to say that: “We found, from records of the discussions and interviews with DFID and FCO managers, that the Local Strategy Board addressed the various concerns raised mainly by DFID about the value and risks of the programme, agreed modifications and safeguards, and monitored progress, reporting to the higher-level committees as appropriate”.

Somalia: Overseas Aid

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the ability of (1) the Department for International Development, and (2) the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, to measure the impact of their operations in Somalia on conflict and fragility, with particular regard to whether they are doing more good than harm.

lord bates: A variety of tools and methods are used both by the Department for International Development and the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund to measure the impact of programming and ensure that HMG funded projects do no harm. These include conflict sensitivity analyses, enhanced monitoring of results and impacts (including by independent third parties), and where required the use of more formalised Overseas Security and Justice Assessments.

Department for Education

Universities: Finance

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Council for England as Accounting Officer has a duty to intervene in cases of serious abuse of funding on the part of universities.

viscount younger of leckie: As Accounting Officer for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Chief Executive Officer has a duty to safeguard the public funds the council allocates. Through the Memorandum of Assurance and Accountability, which HEFCE has with all the institutions it funds, the council monitors universities’ management of public money. HEFCE has power, under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, to intervene in cases of mismanagement.

Universities: Pay

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in respect of the duty of the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England to safeguard the efficient use of public funds, what assessment they have made of the value for money of salaries paid to vice-chancellors.

viscount younger of leckie: The government is determined to ensure that students and taxpayers can be confident that they get a good deal from higher education (HE). Over recent years, the government has become increasingly concerned about the level of remuneration for senior staff in the HE sector. It has asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England to look at this issue using its regulatory powers, which has resulted in updated guidance to the sector on senior pay and greater transparency in relation to vice-chancellor salaries. Holding universities to account for value for money has been a key objective of the HE reforms, enacted in the Higher Education and Research Act, and it continues to guide the government’s work as the Office for Students (OfS) is launched. The OfS has a statutory duty to promote value for money in the sector. The government will ask the OfS to use its powers to take action to protect value for money for students and taxpayers in the future.

Universities: Pay

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England has raised with (1)Ministers, and (2) the Permanent Secretaries, at (a) the Department for Education, and (b) the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, any concerns about poor value for money in public spending caused by excessive salaries for vice-chancellors and other senior administrators in England’s universities.

viscount younger of leckie: The Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England meets regularly with officials and with the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation who is a Minister at both the Department for Education, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). They discuss a range of issues relating to the delivery of value for money in our higher education sector, which has included issues related to senior pay as well as issues related to teaching, research and others aspects of the activities of higher education providers. The Chief Executive met the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education in November 2016 and senior pay was not discussed. She has not met the Permanent Secretary for BEIS.

Apprentices

lord birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the release of figures by the Department for Education on 23 November showing that the number of people starting apprenticeships has dropped by 59 per centin the last year, what assessment they have made of the reasons for that decrease; and how they plan to reverse that trend.

lord agnew of oulton: There has been 1.1 million apprenticeship starts in England since May 2015. The 59% drop in starts only covers the period from May to July 2017, and followed a sharp rise in the preceding months, meaning that overall apprenticeship starts in 2016/17 are only down by 2.8% overall. In April 2017, the government introduced changes to the apprenticeship system including the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and the new digital Apprenticeship Service. It is too early to draw conclusions on the impact of these reforms before employers have had time to adjust. The government will continue to monitor the number of apprenticeship starts and work closely with employers to ensure the success of these reforms.

Higher Education

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what evaluation they have made of the Higher Education Degree Datacheck facility system.

viscount younger of leckie: The Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) system represents 103 universities. It is run by Prospects, the commercial branch of the Higher Education Careers Service Unit – an agency of sector bodies Universities UK and Guild HE. The department has not evaluated the HEDD system.

Office for Students: Business Interests

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the contract of the Chief Executive of the Office for Students forbids her from accepting remuneration for employment from a university in England after her term of office.

viscount younger of leckie: The Office for Students currently exists in shadow form and will be legally constituted on 1 January 2018. In appointing the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) her current interests were disclosed and discussed in terms of how they affect her tenure as CEO. In making public appointments it is not usual practice to determine the future employment of public appointees.

Office for Students: Business Interests

lord adonis: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the contract of the Chair of the Office for Students forbids him from accepting remuneration or employment from a university in England after his term of office.

viscount younger of leckie: The Office for Students currently exists in shadow form and will be legally constituted on 1 January 2018. In appointing the Chair his current interests were disclosed and discussed in terms of how they affect his tenure as Chair. He attended a Pre-Appointment Hearing before the Education Select Committee who endorsed his appointment. In making public appointments it is not usual practice to determine the future employment of public appointees.

Church Schools

lord murphy of torfaen: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to agree the Church Supplemental Agreement.

lord agnew of oulton: The department is currently considering the changes proposed by the Church of England Education Office and Catholic Education Service to the Church Supplemental Agreement and will respond in due course.

Church Schools: Admissions

lord murphy of torfaen: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of removing the 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions on pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds who seek a place in a Catholic school.

lord murphy of torfaen: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the removal of the 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions on the ethnic diversity of Catholic schools.

lord murphy of torfaen: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the regional demand from parents for places in Catholic schools; and how the removal of the 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions will meet that demand.

lord murphy of torfaen: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the removal of the 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions on the ability of the Catholic Church to open new schools.

lord agnew of oulton: The proposal to remove the 50% cap on faith admissions in faith free schools is set out in the ‘Schools that work for everyone’ consultation document (copies available in the House Library). The department plans to respond on this consultation in due course.

Ministry of Defence

Cyprus: Military Bases

lord sharkey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 November (HL3241), how the proportion of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots employed at the Cyprus Sovereign Base areas in 2017 compares with the proportion of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the 2011 censuses; and what assessment they have made of how they have fulfilled their obligations under Paragraph 2 of Section 7 of Part II of Annex B of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment to have regard as far as possible to the proportionate numbers of the Communities in Cyprus.

earl howe: The 2011 censuses indicate that the proportion of Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus was 83 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. The proportion of Greek and Turkish Cypriots employed in the Sovereign Base Areas in 2017, is approximately 0.12 per cent and 0.08 per cent of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations as identified in the 2011 censuses. The proportion of Greek and Turkish Cypriot nationals employed by the Sovereign Base Area Administration (SBAA) and British Forces Cyprus in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) are 88 per cent and 12 per cent respectively. The SBAA has reviewed the balance of its employment and concluded that it is compliant with Annex B, Part II, Section 7, Para 2 under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment. Our compliance will continue to be kept under review. Details of the Cypriot contractors employed in the SBAs are held by private contractors, who have no obligation to provide us with this information. Contractors work for a variety of employers across the island and there is no certainty of when their staff are working in the SBAs as opposed to under other contractual obligations they have elsewhere on the island. For private contractors, therefore, the information is not held in the format requested.

Type 45 Destroyers

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government by when the Royal Navy's fleet of Type 45 Destroyers will have undergone the propulsion improvement programme; and at what cost.

earl howe: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Procurement (Harriett Baldwin), in the House of Commons on  4 December 2017 to Question number 116327.



116327 - WQnA extract on Type 45 Destroyers
(Word Document, 12.39 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Disability Living Allowance

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to means test Disability Living Allowance.

baroness buscombe: We have no plans to means test Disability Living Allowance.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Brofiscin Quarry

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether capping the limestone quarry at Brofiscin has prevented non-biodegradable PCBs and other toxic materials from leaching into the underlying aquifer affecting water supplies in England.

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether or not the water supplies for Birmingham contain residues of non-biodegradable PCBs and other toxins as a result of leaching from Brofiscin quarry.

lord gardiner of kimble: Brofiscin quarry is on an aquifer (water bearing strata/rock), which is hydrogeologically disconnected from the aquifer beneath Elan Valley reservoirs and the associated aqueduct that contribute to Birmingham public water supply. The distance that separates the two locations is significant; therefore there is no pathway for contamination to migrate from the quarry to the Elan aquifer. The Elan aquifer is the nearest aquifer to Brofiscin quarry that contributes to Birmingham’s public water supply and the Environment Agency does not consider Brofiscin quarry to present any risk to Birmingham’s water supply. Natural Resources Wales is responsible for regulating the Brofiscin quarry site. Any risks relating to this site are a matter for the devolved Welsh Government.

Home Office

Immigration

lord green of deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in each year between 2007 and 2016, how many people were granted leave to remain following (1) 10 years of legal residence as set out in paragraph 276B(i)(a) of the Immigration Rules, and (2) 20 years illegal residence in the UK as set out in paragraph 277ADE(1)(iii) of the Immigration Rules.

baroness williams of trafford: Paragraph 276B(i)(a) refers to the requirements for indefinite leave to remain. Accordingly this answer provides data on indefinite rather than limited leave to remain.Grants of indefinite leave to remain on the basis of long residence are published in settlement table se_03 , here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2016/list-of-tables#settlementThe figures prior to July 2012 will also include grants on the basis of 14 years lawful and unlawful long residence. That provision was removed in July 2012.The 20 year long residence rule was implemented from 9 July 2012. These grants of leave to remain are categorised as Private Life in the published statistics, available at tables ex_01 and ex_01q here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017/list-of-tables#extensionsThe 20 year qualifying period in this category can also include periods of lawful leave, as well as illegal residence.



Private Life Grants - Table ex_01 and ex_01q 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 17.21 KB)




Tables se_03
(Excel SpreadSheet, 25.5 KB)

Home Office: EU Law

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government which statutory instruments in force relating to the responsibilities of the Home Office are derived wholly, or in part, from EU legislation.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not hold information centrally on which statutory instruments relating to the responsibilities of the Home Office are derived wholly or in part from EU legislation.For the purposes of exiting the EU, Government departments have been analysing the UK statute book and directly applicable EU law in their areas of responsibility to enable an assessment of the scale of the changes needed. This is likely to include the repeal, but also the amendment, of provisions in Acts but we are not in a position to give a sense of scale at this time.

Immigration

baroness kramer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether individuals who have been granted indefinite leave to remain are obliged to apply for British citizenship; if so, why; and if not, what information such individuals are given by the UK Border Agency in this regard upon arrival in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: Individuals who are settled in the UK are not obliged to apply to naturalise as British citizens. The Government believes that citizenship is a personal choice, and is a privilege and not a right, and it would not be appropriate to compel all those who settle in the UK to become British.Entrants to the UK will normally need to remain in the UK for a period of at least five years before being eligible to settle in the UK and so it would be premature to provide them with information on citizenship at the point of their arrival. Where someone wishes to naturalise they can find relevant information on the GOV.uk website.

Immigration

baroness kramer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there has been any change in the terms on which indefinite leave to remain in the UK is (1) granted, and (2) applied to those who were previously granted such leave, in the past year.

baroness williams of trafford: In the past year there have been a number of policy amendments across specific ILR routes. Information relating to these amendments, and the specific ILR routes these affect, are communicated via the GOV.UK website.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=uk-visas-and-immigrationThere has been no change in terms for those persons who have been granted ILR in the past year. Individuals who hold ILR in the United Kingdom have no restriction on their right to live and work in the United Kingdom. They are able to apply for benefits in the same way as British citizens.



Tables as_19 and as_20
(Excel SpreadSheet, 88.3 KB)

Police

baroness harris of richmond: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) police officers, and (2) police community support officers, in England and Wales, broken down by police force area.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) employed by each police force in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis. These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2017Table H5 of the accompanying data tables contains information on the number of police officers, by police force area, and table H7 contains data on the number of PCSOs by police force area: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629865/police-workforce-tabs-jul17.ods



Police Workforce - Tables H5 and H7
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.43 KB)




Police Workforce, Eng & Wales Stats - March 2017
(PDF Document, 1.06 MB)

Knives: Crime

lord laming: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take in response to Home Office figures which show an increase in the number of deaths as a result of knife crime amongst under 19s.

baroness williams of trafford: Our work to tackle knife crime is centred on four key strands: working with the police on operations and enforcement; work on the legislative framework; to work with retailers on responsible sales of knives; and early intervention and prevention. We are encouraging police forces to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation Sceptre. It includes targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives from retailers, the use of surrender bins, and educational activities. A record thirty-two police forces took part in the week of action in July. We have agreed a set of commitments with major retailers to prevent the underage sales of knives in their stores and online. The agreement also covers staff training and displays and packaging. We are keeping the legislative framework under review and we have taken action to ban zombie knives in August 2016. In addition on 14 October we launched a consultation on new legislation on offensive weapons. The proposals include placing restrictions on the online sale of knives, creating a new offence of possession of an offensive or dangerous weapon in a private place, and updating existing legislation. We have launched a community fund to support local communities to tackle knife crime.We are also supporting youth violence intervention and prevention work in hospital emergency departments including supporting the voluntary sector organisation, Redthread, undertake work in London hospitals and pilots its approach shortly in Nottingham and Birmingham.

Northern Ireland Office

Sovereignty: Northern Ireland

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to call aborder pollin Northern Ireland; and if so, when.

lord duncan of springbank: The UK Government remains fully committed to the Belfast Agreement. This includes the obligation for the Secretary of State to call a border poll if he believes there is majority support for a united Ireland. It is, however, the Secretary of State’s view that a majority of the people of Northern Ireland continue to support the current political settlement, including Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom. As set out in the Government’s Northern Ireland manifesto at the General Election the circumstances set out in the 1998 Agreement that require a border poll on Irish unification are therefore not satisfied.

Northern Ireland Government

lord hay of ballyore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Northern Ireland Executive is restored as soon as possible.

lord duncan of springbank: The Government remains determined to re-establish the fully functioning, inclusive devolved administration that works for everyone in Northern Ireland. The issues dividing the parties are relatively small in number, focusing mainly around culture, identity and the future stability of the devolved institutions. While not underestimating the challenges involved the Government believes a way forward can be found and an agreement reached. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland remains in close contact with the parties and the Irish Government in accordance with the three stranded approach to Northern Ireland affairs.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

lord hay of ballyore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland in tackling terrorism in Northern Ireland.

lord duncan of springbank: The Police Service of Northern Ireland and others who work to keep people safe have our full support for the public service they give. This Government has provided the Police Service of Northern Ireland with the additional resources they asked for to tackle the SEVERE threat from terrorism, this includes £160m in Additional Security Funding to PSNI in this spending review period.

Department of Health

Palliative Care: Children

lord carlile of berriew: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to commission a review into the consistency of regional commissioning of services families with children in need of palliative care.

lord carlile of berriew: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings by the charity Together for Short Lives in its report Commissioning children’s palliative care in England: 2017 edition that (1) only 35 per centof clinical commissioning groups are implementing HM Government’s guidance set out in Our Commitment to You for End of Life Care, and (2) that 46 per centhave no plans to do so; and whether they intend to conduct a review into how implementation levels can be improved and made consistent throughout England.

lord o'shaughnessy: In July 2016, the Government set out its commitment to everyone at the end of life in the Government response to the independent What’s important to me. A Review of Choice in End of Life Care. A copy of the Review is attached. Our Commitment to you for end of life care: The Government Response to the Review of Choice in End of Life Care (the Choice Commitment) set out what everyone should expect from their care at the end of life and the actions we are taking to make high quality and personalisation a reality for all, both adults and children, and to end variation in end of life care across the health system by 2020. A copy of the Government Response is attached. On 21 September 2017 we published One year on: the government response to the review of choice in end of life care setting out the good progress made in delivering this over the first year. A copy is attached. Through the Mandate, we have asked NHS England to deliver the Choice Commitment, and working through NHS England’s National Programme Board for End of life Care with all key system partners and stakeholders, including Together for Short Lives (TFSL), a range of activity is ongoing to achieve this. It is right that clinical commissioning groups have autonomy to shape services locally, and it is important that, where needed, more is done to provide them with tools, evidence, support and guidance to demonstrate the benefits of delivering the Government’s vision for end of life care. NHS England, Public Health England and the Ambitions Partnership (comprising national organisations across the statutory and voluntary sectors, including TFSL) have provided a wealth of support over the first year, including: currencies to improve transparency in specialist palliative commissioning; new guidance on cost effective commissioning; data about end of life care to assist Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STP) as they develop their plans for services; and seven evaluations of different approaches to 24/7 models of care. Early in 2017, NHS England will be holding workshops with a range of STP leads to provide practical advice and support on developing effective end of life care services and demonstrating the value they can bring. In addition, TFSL has been commissioned by NHS England to promote the adoption of best practice approaches to children’s that are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and report back on barriers to implementation locally.



What's important to me
(PDF Document, 2.87 MB)




Our commitment to you for end of life care
(PDF Document, 885.36 KB)




One year on
(PDF Document, 455.12 KB)

Smoking

lord faulkner of worcester: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the approval process for proposals for a grant for 2017–18 to support implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan under section 64 of the of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 will be completed.

lord faulkner of worcester: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any plans to support implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan for England will contain provisions for future year funding to cover the full length of the Plan from 2017 to 2022.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Department is still considering the scope and procurement process for grants to support the implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan. Cabinet Office standards require all new grants to be subject to competition. Our intention is to make any future grant available on a multi-year basis, subject to an appropriate business case and satisfactory performance on the part of the funded bodies.

NHS Litigation Authority

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of the performance of the NHS Litigation Authority.

lord o'shaughnessy: The NHS Litigation Authority, known as NHS Resolution from 1 April 2017, is accountable to the Department and its performance is subject to regular review through the Department’s sponsorship arrangements. The Department’s assessment is that NHS Resolution is a well-run and efficient organisation and that it has had some success, within the current legal framework, in containing the cost of National Health Service litigation, a view that was supported by the National Audit Office (NAO), in its report Managing the costs of clinical negligence in trusts published in September 2017. A copy of the report is attached. NHS Resolution has a responsibility to settle justified claims fairly and promptly, and defend unjustified claims to secure NHS resources. Each case must be considered on its own merits and it is important that a proper investigation is undertaken. NHS Resolution aims to get to the right answer as quickly as possible in every case and to help resolve claims sooner, and without the need for court proceedings, NHS Resolution launched a new mediation service in December 2016. The NAO report on clinical negligence costs concluded that it is difficult to benchmark an optimal time for resolution and the Department is satisfied, that overall, NHS Resolution strikes the right balance in settling claims in a timely manner. In recognition that the organisation’s effectiveness in reducing NHS litigation costs could be improved by expanding its remit and giving it a greater role in promoting learning from harmful incidents, the Secretary of State announced earlier this year that the NHS Litigation Authority would be known as NHS Resolution from 1 April 2017 with a new five year strategy Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm: Our strategy to 2022 which gives it an enhanced focus on mediation, learning and prevention, as well as litigation. A copy of the five year strategy is attached.NHS Resolution already works with NHS organisations, with the use of the claims scorecards, to help them understand their claims data to better assess where local interventions would have the greatest impact in reducing high volume or high costs claims. It also shares learning and best practice across the NHS through the development of guidance including cases studies derived from analysis of the national database of claims, thematic guidance and national events. Through its new strategy, it will deliver increased insight into what drives the costs of harm and work in partnership with others to develop interventions that improve safety and save money for the NHS, as demonstrated by its report Five years of cerebral palsy claims: A thematic review of NHS Resolution data published in September. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library due to the size of the document.



Managing the costs of clinical negligence
(PDF Document, 595.19 KB)




Delivering fair resolution
(PDF Document, 9.6 MB)

NHS Litigation Authority

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to whichthe NHS Litigation Authority acknowledges fault in a timely manner.

lord o'shaughnessy: The NHS Litigation Authority, known as NHS Resolution from 1 April 2017, is accountable to the Department and its performance is subject to regular review through the Department’s sponsorship arrangements. The Department’s assessment is that NHS Resolution is a well-run and efficient organisation and that it has had some success, within the current legal framework, in containing the cost of National Health Service litigation, a view that was supported by the National Audit Office (NAO), in its report Managing the costs of clinical negligence in trusts published in September 2017. A copy of the report is attached.NHS Resolution has a responsibility to settle justified claims fairly and promptly, and defend unjustified claims to secure NHS resources. Each case must be considered on its own merits and it is important that a proper investigation is undertaken. NHS Resolution aims to get to the right answer as quickly as possible in every case and to help resolve claims sooner, and without the need for court proceedings, NHS Resolution launched a new mediation service in December 2016. The NAO report on clinical negligence costs concluded that it is difficult to benchmark an optimal time for resolution and the Department is satisfied, that overall, NHS Resolution strikes the right balance in settling claims in a timely manner.In recognition that the organisation’s effectiveness in reducing NHS litigation costs could be improved by expanding its remit and giving it a greater role in promoting learning from harmful incidents, the Secretary of State announced earlier this year that the NHS Litigation Authority would be known as NHS Resolution from 1 April 2017 with a new five year strategy Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm: Our strategy to 2022 which gives it an enhanced focus on mediation, learning and prevention, as well as litigation. A copy of the five year strategy is attached.NHS Resolution already works with NHS organisations, with the use of the claims scorecards, to help them understand their claims data to better assess where local interventions would have the greatest impact in reducing high volume or high costs claims. It also shares learning and best practice across the NHS through the development of guidance including cases studies derived from analysis of the national database of claims, thematic guidance and national events. Through its new strategy, it will deliver increased insight into what drives the costs of harm and work in partnership with others to develop interventions that improve safety and save money for the NHS, as demonstrated by its report Five years of cerebral palsy claims: A thematic review of NHS Resolution data published in September. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library due to the size of the document.



Managing the costs of clinical negligence
(PDF Document, 595.19 KB)




Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm
(PDF Document, 9.6 MB)

NHS Litigation Authority

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they ensure that lessons learned through cases handled by the NHS Litigation Authority are passed on to the NHS rapidly to prevent future errors.

lord o'shaughnessy: The NHS Litigation Authority, known as NHS Resolution from 1 April 2017, is accountable to the Department and its performance is subject to regular review through the Department’s sponsorship arrangements. The Department’s assessment is that NHS Resolution is a well-run and efficient organisation and that it has had some success, within the current legal framework, in containing the cost of National Health Service litigation, a view that was supported by the National Audit Office (NAO), in its report Managing the costs of clinical negligence in trusts published in September 2017. A copy of the report is attached. NHS Resolution has a responsibility to settle justified claims fairly and promptly, and defend unjustified claims to secure NHS resources. Each case must be considered on its own merits and it is important that a proper investigation is undertaken. NHS Resolution aims to get to the right answer as quickly as possible in every case and to help resolve claims sooner, and without the need for court proceedings, NHS Resolution launched a new mediation service in December 2016. The NAO report on clinical negligence costs concluded that it is difficult to benchmark an optimal time for resolution and the Department is satisfied, that overall, NHS Resolution strikes the right balance in settling claims in a timely manner. In recognition that the organisation’s effectiveness in reducing NHS litigation costs could be improved by expanding its remit and giving it a greater role in promoting learning from harmful incidents, the Secretary of State announced earlier this year that the NHS Litigation Authority would be known as NHS Resolution from 1 April 2017 with a new five year strategy Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm: Our strategy to 2022 which gives it an enhanced focus on mediation, learning and prevention, as well as litigation. A copy of the five year strategy is attached.NHS Resolution already works with NHS organisations, with the use of the claims scorecards, to help them understand their claims data to better assess where local interventions would have the greatest impact in reducing high volume or high costs claims. It also shares learning and best practice across the NHS through the development of guidance including cases studies derived from analysis of the national database of claims, thematic guidance and national events. Through its new strategy, it will deliver increased insight into what drives the costs of harm and work in partnership with others to develop interventions that improve safety and save money for the NHS, as demonstrated by its report Five years of cerebral palsy claims: A thematic review of NHS Resolution data published in September. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library due to the size of the document.



Managing the costs of clinical negligence
(PDF Document, 595.19 KB)




Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm
(PDF Document, 9.6 MB)

NHS Litigation Authority

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of clinical cases brought against the NHS and managed by the NHS Litigation Authority in each of the past ten years resulted in (1) a finding of liability by the courts, (2) a finding by the courts that there was no liability, (3) a settlement outside court alongside an admission of liability, (4) a settlement outside court with no admission of liability, and (5) some other outcome.

lord o'shaughnessy: NHS Resolution, formerly known as the NHS Litigation Authority, manages clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service in England on behalf of member organisations. NHS Resolution has provided the following information: Clinical claims closed (or settled as a Periodical Payment Order) 2007/08 to 2016/17 as at 31 October 2017 are set out in the attached table due to the size of the data. In relation to settlements outside court with or without an admission of liability, NHS Resolution has advised that it does not collate details of all cases where admissions were made but it has provided the number of settled cases where a damages payment was awarded or not. NHS Resolution has advised that there is no ‘other outcome’ for cases.



Clinical claims closed
(Word Document, 21.46 KB)

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plansto provide additional funding for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services post 2020.

lord porter of spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional funding for child and adolescent mental health services in England and Wales post 2020.

lord o'shaughnessy: The current Spending Review period covers the four years from 2016-17 to 2019-20. The Government will consider its plans for funding of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services following 2020 as part of the next Spending Review.

Smoking

lord rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding they provided under section 64 of the Health Servicesand Public Health Act 1968 to support implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan for England published in 2011; and to which organisations.

lord rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide funding under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 to support implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan for England published in July.

lord o'shaughnessy: Over the duration of the previous Tobacco Control Plan, 2011–2015, the Department awarded £750,000 of funding to Action on Smoking and Health, supporting the implementation of tobacco control policies. From 2012, these grants were awarded under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. Unfortunately, the Department’s financial system does not provide the level of detail to confirm whether funding was made under the legal power of Section 64 prior to this date. Financial YearGrantsProcurementGrand TotalComments2015/16125,000 125,000Grant to support the Tobacco Plan2014/15150,000 150,000Grant to support the Tobacco Plan2013/14175,000 175,000Grant to support the Tobacco Plan2012/13150,000 150,000Grant to support the Tobacco Plan2011/12150,000 150,000Grant to support the Tobacco Plan The Department is still considering the scope and procurement process for grants to support the implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan. Cabinet Office standards require all new grants to be subject to competition. Our intention is to make any future grant available on a multi-year basis, subject to an appropriate business case and satisfactory performance on the part of the funded bodies.

Medical Records

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an NHSdoctor denying an NHS patient access to their medical records would be grounds for disciplinary action by their professional body, employer or contracting authority.

lord o'shaughnessy: Patients have a legal right to apply for access to their medical records and do not need to give a reason. A patient who is denied access to their medical records can make a complaint to the Information Comissioner and/or the relevant contracting authority and/or the General Medical Council (GMC) and/or the relevant employer. There are some circumstances where exemptions may apply to a patients right to access this information and it would be a matter for the relevant body to whom the complaint is made to investigate further and decide on appropriate action. Doctors have a responsibility to be familiar with and follow GMC guidance, and must use their judgement in applying the principles to the various situations they face in practice. They must be prepared to explain and justify their decisions and actions, and serious or persistent failure to follow the guidance will put a doctor’s registration at risk.

Nutrition: Mental Health

baroness burt of solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment have they made of the links between nutrition and mental health.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has made no assessment of the link between nutrition and mental health and currently has no plans to do so.

Antibiotics: Research

lord crathorne: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support small UK companies which are researching and trying to produce new antibiotics, in particular through the use of market entry rewards.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Government has invested in a range of research to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Specific investments aimed at small and medium sized enterprises include a competition call worth £4 million in 2016/17 launched by Innovate UK to reinvigorate AMR research and innovation networks in the United Kingdom. This call particularly focused on the need for collaborative working with industry, including small and medium sized enterprises, to bring products to market. The UK is also spending £50 million in a Global AMR Innovation Fund which aims to invest in global research and development for the benefit of people living in low- and middle-income countries. As part of this, it will consider how to provide access to finance for those researchers who struggle to access traditional funding sources, including small and medium sized enterprises. In response to the independent review on AMR chaired by Lord O’Neill, the Government committed to strengthening support for market entry rewards in international fora including the G7 and G20 to address market failure in antibiotics. The Department is currently working through the G20 to make tangible progress in developing market incentives.

Medical Treatments

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many technologies have been considered for ministerial referral to the NICE High Specialised Technology programme in each of the last three years; and of those, how many were (1) accepted, (2) rejected, and (3) referred to other assessment processes for consideration.

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of technologies expected to be considered for referral to the NICE Highly Specialised Technology assessment process over the next two years.

lord o'shaughnessy: We have made no estimate on the number of technologies expected to be considered for referral over the next two years. The following table shows the number of technologies considered for ministerial referral to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Highly Specialised Technology (HST) programme in each of the last three years:  Financial year 2015/162016/172017/18 (so far)Accepted (HST guidance has started)252Rejected by NICE1 (topic was not prioritised by NICE for guidance)10Referred to other assessment processes for consideration1 (topic is now being developed under Single Technology Appraisal process)20Topic still under consideration by NICE8824Company withdrew Marketing Authorisation for the indication/no longer pursuing a license in this indication301Total potential HST topics considered by NICE per financial year1516 (including 8 still under consideration from 2015/16)27 (including 9 still under consideration from 2016/17)

Medical Treatments

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans NICE has put in place to increase the capacity of the Highly Specialised Technology appraisal process.

lord o'shaughnessy: The resources and capacity of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Highly Specialised Technology (HST) programme in future years will be considered alongside other priorities through the annual business planning process taking into account the expected demand for HST guidance.

Orphan Drugs

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration has been given byNICE to appraisal criteria for ultra-orphan conditions.

lord o'shaughnessy: For treatments to be considered by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the Highly Specialised Technologies (HST) programme, including ultra-orphan treatments, they are subject to the elimination and prioritisation criteria set by NICE. The elimination criteria remove any unsuitable topics from potential consideration for guidance development through the HST programme, and the criteria are as follows: - There is likely to be significant benefit to patients in terms of administration, efficacy or improved side effect profile;- The new formulation or technology is at, or likely to be at a significantly different price;- There is appropriate evidence, such as would enable evaluation, either available or anticipated to be available in the near future;- The timing is right. NICE is committed to publishing timely guidance within six months of the marketing authorisation; and- The relevant clinical question(s) can be addressed by the application of the highly specialised technologies evaluation methodology. This would exclude topics on which guidance to NHS England would be of inadequate value in the absence of broader guidelines on the clinical pathway within which the technology should be contextualised. The importance of each topic is considered against the prioritisation criteria that help the Department decide which topics should be referred to NICE for guidance development through the HST programme. The prioritisation criteria are as follows: - The target patient group for the technology in its licensed indication is so small that treatment will usually be concentrated in very few centres in the NHS;- The target patient group is distinct for clinical reasons;- The condition is chronic and severely disabling;- The technology is expected to be used exclusively in the context of a highly specialised service;- The technology is likely to have a very high acquisition cost;- The technology has the potential for life long use; and- The need for national commissioning of the technology is significant.